Phoenix Coyotes ready to get 'intense'

Martin Hanzal relishes his role as club's unsung hero

As a shutdown center in the NHL, the results of a night's work don't always translate into the box score. They don't produce dazzling goals worthy of a highlight reel. And most of the time, the effort isn't even noticeable to a casual fan.

Yet despite all that, the Coyotes' Martin Hanzal wouldn't want any other job on this team -- especially in the playoffs.

"Oh for sure, I love it," he said. "This is why you play hockey. This is a new season. Playoffs, it's just more and more intense. I'm just excited."

That's exactly the attitude the Coyotes will need from their top-line center when they open up their first round, best-of-seven series with the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at Jobing.com Arena.

The challenge this year, however, will be different. The past two playoff seasons Hanzal had to track Detroit's premier stars Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom.

Although the talent level is similar, Chicago's finest -- Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Patrick Shark -- exhibit a style that can be more bruising and aggressive.

Coach Dave Tippett wouldn't confirm that it will be Hanzal's line, which also features wingers Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata, checking Chicago's first unit (Kane, Toews and Hossa), but it's a safe bet their paths will cross at least a few times during the series.

"They're so good with the puck, and they're fast," Hanzal said. "You just gotta be hard on them and don't give them any opportunity to skate the puck and give them more time than usual."

Perhaps the most intriguing dynamic in this possible match-up is that it pits the Coyotes' best offensive weapons against those of the Blackhawks. Even though the Blackhawks' top line has produced 14 more goals and 27 more points than the Coyotes' No. 1 trio, the Coyotes like the collision of powers.

"I think a lot of times the best players would rather face the best players because it's not such a grinding, checking situation," Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said.

Keeping a defense-first mind-set is familiar territory that comes with playing with Hanzal. The unit recognizes that is their chief goal.

"You have to be responsible defensively because if you're in the defensive zone, those guys have a lot of skill and talent to score and create chances," Vrbata said. "On the other hand, I'm sure they don't want to defend too much so if we are more in their zone, we can do the same to them.

"You have to be really responsible defensively, but you can take advantage when you get into the offensive zone."

One of the line's strengths this season has been their ability to defend by doing just that -- being in the offensive zone. Puck possession is key, and that's where Whitney and Vrbata benefit from Hanzal.

"That's why I love playing with him because he's a big body," Vrbata said. "He's got a long reach, so he can hold onto the puck and guys. That creates open space for me and 'Whits' a little bit.

"To have a big body in front of the net where he can draw people to him, that usually opens something up for us."

The team expects Hanzal will accomplish this task of mitigating the impact of Chicago's leaders. His consistency and willingness would hint that they could be right.

"Blackhawks have a great team," Hanzal said. "I'm just excited and will do everything I can to win the series."